AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Yes. George’s sons don’t share his ambitions. Just as well.’ His voice gained a menacing edge. ‘I’d have crushed them all for what he did to you.’
She shuddered.
He’d frightened her.
He changed the subject. ‘The doctors tell me you can leave tomorrow.’
She nodded, keeping her eyes downcast. ‘They’ve arranged therapy for me in London, and a serviced apartment to convalesce in until I’m fit enough to go home.’
He didn’t tell her that those arrangements had been made at his order and his expense. Even the ‘apartment’, which in reality was a penthouse in a luxurious Chelsea development, with every conceivable comfort and convenience she could need and medical staff on call, even though he hoped none of them would be needed.
‘That’s good,’ he said. ‘But I may have another option for you to consider.’
She tensed.
‘No,’ he swiftly reassured her. ‘Not that.’
She watched him, wary and fey, as if she might slip from his grasp and dissolve on the slightest breeze.
Instinctively he drew her hand closer. This time she didn’t resist.
Now,he thought,ask her now.
He took a steadying breath. ‘I should begin by saying I don’t deserve you. Certainly not after the way I’ve treated you, and not after what you’ve gone through because of me. But I have a question to ask. Though I must insist you don’t give me your answer tonight. I want you to think of the consequences of saying yes. If that’s what you decide. You may say no, of course, and that would be okay, too. Well, obviously not for me...’
Her pale brow creased in confusion.
Not surprising. Had a man ever made such a hash of proposing?
‘What I mean is...’ He paused, took another breath. ‘Lily, will you marry me?’
She gave the tiniest gasp, but her fingers within his remained motionless. That didn’t seem good. What if Nate had misjudged her feelings? What if she really couldn’t forgive him?
He blundered on. ‘I know I have no right to ask you. It’s a selfish act. God knows, it’s not an easy life. I should let you go.’
But then, oh, then his heart leapt. He felt her fingers move against his.
‘What if you’re what I want?’ she said.
He raised his eyes to hers. Pale grey to determined hazel. And he dared to hope. But she had to understand that often her life would be hard.
‘Perhaps what you want isn’t good for you?’ he said.
‘I think it’s for me to be the judge of that, don’t you?’
Inside, he gave a crow of triumph. There she was. His fierce Lily.
‘I know that you’ll be good for me. Your stepbrother has already threatened violence if I don’t take care of you, but it seems to be the other way round. You keep saving me,’ he said. ‘That summer, when I arrived in England, I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through the next hour, let alone the rest of my life. But you...’ He slid his thumb back and forth across her knuckles. ‘A little kid, with a big heart, you showed me there was a way.’
She was watching him intently now. Waiting for more. For the words he knew she wanted—no,neededto hear. But after all that had happened how did he say them? The words he’d never said out loud before.
How did he tell he loved her?
He looked at their entwined fingers, his large hands engulfing her small one, which somehow looked perfect together.
‘Marry her,’ his father had said. His parting advice before being discharged from the hospital that morning.
‘And inflict this life on her?’ Khaled had replied.
